News Around The Hollow

Wittenberg Alumnus’ Company Selected To Participate In Hit TV Show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Springfield, Ohio – When the Rhodes family of Columbus, Ohio, heard that famed knock on the door, little did it know that the life-changing experience of a complete home makeover would forever tie the family to one Wittenberg alumnus.

Dan Dillon ’78, one of four owners/principals of P&D Builders, learned earlier this year that his company was the top pick of the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition production crew for the 2011 Christmas episode of the Emmy-award-winning ABC hit show set to air at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16.*

“The show actually does its own vetting regarding builders in a market through trade & client recommendations, historical reputation, banking references, supply chain, etc.,” Dillon said. “It then approaches the builder it chooses.”

Based in Delaware, Ohio, Dillon’s company is one of Central Ohio’s historical & iconic full-service custom/design home builders, which has been constructing homes for nearly 50 years. The Rhodes family resides in the American Addition neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, which both the City of Columbus and the Columbus Housing Project have partnered to revitalize. Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman has committed to building 200 homes in the area.

Dillon and P&D’s experience working in the community surpassed the physical building process, however. From day one, the P&D crew worked side by side with more than 500 volunteers to build the Rhodes family a new home in just under a week’s time. They watched as the community came together to support the family in every way possible.

“Being able to give this deserving family a new home was an accomplishment in and of itself,” Dillon said. “Being able to participate in a huge, fast-moving and dynamic volunteer production was also rewarding.”

Dillon’s experience with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is not the first time Wittenberg has been involved with the show. In 2009, Wittenberg provided tuition waivers for all four children in the Terpenning family of Beavercreek, Ohio, another deserving makeover family. The gift is believed to be the largest educational gift by total dollar value in the show’s history.

*For viewers in the Columbus market, WSYX ABC-6 will air a one-hour special at 7 p.m., which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the project.